PLEASE READ: As you can see by googling my on-line store ALUMPSTER’S GUITARS, I generally sell only Martin, Gibson, Guild, Taylor, Larrivee, and Alvarez-Yairi guitars. Most of these models are made so well that they tend to increase in value and improve in the complexity and resonance of their sound as they age, regardless of their appearance. This guitar, like all my guitars, is available at a negotiable Buy It Now price in my on-line store at any time. I will also consider reasonable offers in my store, including installment payments and trade-ins. If you have a question about this guitar, please Google “alumpster’s guitars” to ask on-line or call 803-731-0515.

The Martin D-16GT dreadnought acoustic guitar is part of the “16” series of Martin guitars which combine modern guitar specifications with the famous Martin quality and sound. Starting in 1986 with the D-16M, the series continued with the D-16 in 1989 and the D-16H from 1991-1996, which was finally succeeded by the D-16T from 1996 to the present. The D-16GT is the Glossy Top version, introduced in 1999—three years before this particular guitar was made, according to its serial number (894529). Featuring solid woods throughout, the D-16GT is a superb American-made acoustic guitar at a more affordable price than the D-28 and beyond.

The D-16GT features a solid mahogany back and sides in a semi-gloss finish with black binding, a solid cedar neck, and a glossy finish solid Sitka Spruce top. With its tortoise pick guard (this one looks new and may be a replacement for the more common black guard), herringbone rosette, rosewood belly-style bridge with white black-dot pins, rosewood fingerboard with pearl-dot inlay, rosewood headstock with raised gold foil logo, and enclosed chrome Martin small-knob tuners, this is the picture of a quality guitar--topped off, of course, with the C. F. Martin name on the headstock which says it all.

The playability and sound verify the quality promised by the name. The body dimensions are similar to those of most dreadnoughts: it has a 14/20-fret fingerboard, a 25.4” scale, a fingerboard width of 1 11/16” at the nut and 2 1/8” at the 12^th fret, and what looks like a new bone compensated saddle. The Martin mortise/tenon neck joint and scalloped spruce hybrid X-bracing of the top combine with the great strength of mahogany to allow for thinner, more responsive tonewoods, making for the rich, bright sound characteristic of the D-16. The modified low-profile neck is fast and comfortable, which is good because you won’t want to put it down for hours.

The playing condition is excellent, as you would expect of a Martin: straight neck, little fret wear, solid bridge, tight tuners, and so on. The action is medium at a bit over 3/32” at the 12^th fret low E, and the sound is terrific—and it will only become better as it ages. If the action is a bit high for your style of play because of the new saddle, obviously it could be adjusted with the truss rod or simply by shaving that saddle a hair.

Cosmetically, the finish is generally in excellent shape, but there are a large number of shallow pinhead dings in the top below the sound hole, as if the guy tapped with some very sharp fingernails while he played. They don’t show in the pictures, but they are visible at close range with light at an angle.  In addition, there is a ding and small crack at the edge of the bass top lower bout, visible in the pictures. This has been professionally and permanently repaired, including glue and cleats, and I guarantee that the overall appearance, sound, and playability are not affected.

The hard shell Martin case is vintage, not original, but it’s complete with the Martin name plate on the top. In its years it has earned a few dings around the edges protecting Martin guitars. However, the hardware all works perfectly, and the plush bronze interior is in fine shape, as seen in the pictures. As one would expect of a Martin case, it is an ideal complement to this excellent guitar.

Buyer pays a flat rate of $55.00 for insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashier's checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.

I believe that I have described this instrument fully and accurately. Please check out the pictures and ask any questions before offering to buy it, as its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing.

Thank you for your interest in this fine guitar.